RED SUN (1971) – I had originally planned to review this international production during Frontierado Season of 2025, but French superstar Alain Delon’s recent death made me decide to post it now. Red Sun was a French-Italian co-production starring America’s Charles Bronson, France’s Alain Delon and Japan’s Toshiro Mifune in a Spaghetti Western.
Directing the film was Terence Young, who had helmed Dr. No and From Russia with Love. Ursula Andress and Capucine added to the massive international star power.
Red Sun is set in 1870. The new Japanese Ambassador to the United States, along with his retinue and bodyguards, arrived in California and as the movie opens is traveling via train across the West in order to reach Washington DC. Ambassador Sakaguchi is bringing with him an ancient Japanese sword as a gift for President Ulysses S. Grant.
The train also carries a shipment of gold targeted by a gang of outlaws led by a charismatic but cruel man called Gauche (Alain Delon) and his longtime partner in crime Link Stuart (Charles Bronson). The bandits rob the gold as the train passes through the western deserts. Gauche displays his callous ruthlessness by not caring that he has to kill an innocent passenger while gunning down a man trying to play hero.
Despite the best efforts of samurai Kuroda Jubei (Toshiro Mifune) the gunslinging outlaw leader even steals valuables from the Ambassador’s party, including the sword intended for President Grant. This sets in motion the rest of the storyline. Continue reading
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